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Science 6 August 1993:
Vol. 261. no. 5122, pp. 751 - 754
DOI: 10.1126/science.261.5122.751
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Articles

Spectroscopic Determination of the Phase Composition and Temperature of Nitrogen Ice on Triton

Kimberly A. Tryka 1, Robert H. Brown 2, Vincent Anicich 2, Dale P. Cruikshank 3, and Tobias C. Owen 4

1 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 183-501, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109
3 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, CA 94035
4 Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822

Laboratory spectra of the first overtone band (2.1480 micrometers, 4655.4 reciprocal centimeters) of solid nitrogen show additional structure at 2.1618 micrometers (4625.8 reciprocal centimeters) over a limited temperature range. The spectrum of Neptune's satellite Triton shows the nitrogen overtone band as well as the temperature-sensitive component. The temperature dependence of this band may be used in conjunction with ground-based observations of Triton as an independent means of determining the temperature of surface deposits of nitrogen ice. The surface temperature of Triton is found to be 38.0+2.0–1.0 K, in agreement with previous temperature estimates and measurements. There is no spectral evidenceforthe presence of agr-nitrogen on Triton's surface, indicating thatthere is less than 10 percent carbon monoxide in solid solution with the nitrogen on the surface.

Submitted on March 2, 1993
Accepted on June 3, 1993


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Triton, Pluto, and the Origin of the Solar System.
J. I. Lunine and J. I. Lunine (1993)
Science 261, 697-698
   PDF »
Surface Ices and the Atmospheric Composition of Pluto.
T. C. Owen, T. C. Owen, T. L. Roush, D. P. Cruikshank, J. L. Elliot, L. A. Young, C. de Bergh, B. Schmitt, T. R. Geballe, R. H. Brown, et al. (1993)
Science 261, 745-748
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Phase Composition of Triton's Polar Caps.
N. S. Duxbury, N. S. Duxbury, and R. H. Brown (1993)
Science 261, 748-751
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)